Southport respite centre film tribute to Freddie Mercury

THE life of rock legend Freddie Mercury has been celebrated in a special video released by a Southport disability charity.

The uplifting video was recorded at Sandpipers, a respite holiday centre, and features disabled guests, volunteers and staff at the Marine Lake care home singing and dancing along to Queen’s legendary anthem Bohemian Rhapsody.

Guests at the respite centre, which provides respite breaks for disabled people and their carers, marked the anniversary of the singer’s death in 1991 with a special ‘Queen Week’ in tribute to the flamboyant frontman.

Vitalise, the charity which runs Sandpipers, is hoping the video is as successful as the centre’s last film, which saw guests perform the Queen classic Don’t Stop Me Now, which paid tribute to the inspiring achievements of Team GB’s athletes in the London Paralympics and received more than 14,500 hits on YouTube.

Vitalise’s Chief Executive Chris Simmonds said: “It seemed fitting to release this video during Queen Week at Sandpipers, as, with the help of our guests and volunteers, we pay tribute to Vitalise’s favourite band and the memory of Freddie Mercury on the anniversary of his death. Freddie lived life on his terms and that’s exactly the spirit we hope to instil in all the people with disabilities who spend time with us. We never see the disability, only the person. We salute Freddie, Queen and the spirit of people with disabilities the world over!”

A link to the video has been carried by the Official Queen website and Facebook page and has been retweeted by Queen guitarist Brian May on his Twitter feed.